2026 Monaco Grand Prix: Recap

Circuit de Monaco is known for its narrow streets and limited overtaking opportunities, making precision essential. Even the smallest mistake can make an impact on a driver’s result. Drivers need to dig deep to navigate the challenging circuit and compete for a place on the podium.

Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) was starting in pole position, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) was in P2, and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) was in P3. The starting lap began, and Verstappen was immediately out due to engine failure. “Just bring it home, Max, please,” his team said. Max later revealed he was excited to bring the pressure and make an intense race and was disappointed he could not do so. Antonelli took the lead, and with Verstappen out, Hamilton rose to P2 with teammate Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) in P3. Notably, Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) and George Russell (Mercedes) followed close behind.

By lap 9, Antonelli’s pace was so strong that if he had made a pit stop, he still would have come out in front of Pierre Gasly (Alpine) in P7. Behind him, however, the race began to tighten up. Hadjar reported issues with his car, which caused his pace to decrease. Russell was stuck behind him, unable to make progress. At a circuit as narrow as Monaco, your position is crucial. The Nouvelle Chicane was a key area on the circuit that saw a lot of action. Drivers used this turn to their advantage, pushing the boundaries if needed to gain time when fighting for a position.

On lap 29, Hamilton and Leclerc pit, and Leclerc came out ahead. On lap 33, Russell barely got ahead of Hadjar before he could leave the pit. A five-second time penalty was awarded to Hamilton for speeding in the pit lane. He was only the first in Monaco to receive this penalty. Russell, Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Gasly, and Franco Colapinto (Alpine) later received the same. While all the drivers claimed they were not speeding, the FIA concluded they had exceeded the white line limit. These penalties would, unfortunately, greatly affect the outcome of the race.

On lap 38, Norris exclaimed that he had “no power, no battery.” With Russell just behind him, the McLaren team told him to use the holding strategy against Russell: “build up the seconds over the next couple of laps, please.” It was an attempt to get his teammate, Piastri, a chance at P4. It was a good call until Norris was quickly passed by Russell in the tunnel section. Norris added another retirement to his record in Monaco as he exited to the pit lane after a battery failure.

On lap 60, a yellow flag was called for Lance Stroll, who had crashed into the wall. As the safety car emerged, the commentators noted, “the enormous lead for Kimi Antonelli is wiped away.” The drivers pit and Hamilton served his penalty at no cost as Leclerc sat behind him. Leclerc heavily criticized this decision by his team. On lap 66, Leclerc’s brakes failed, and he drove into the wall, losing the podium position. “Honestly, I’m not even going to take the blame,” Leclerc retorted.

Race officials called a red flag, and a thirty-five-minute break ensued as they inspected the torn-up track. After it was deemed safe, the second start of the Monaco Grand Prix began! Antonelli held off Hamilton and secured the lead once more. Russell and Gasly squeezed by Hadjar, who fell back to P5. Russell was seemingly battling issues with his car, and so he went into the pit. Due to a miscommunication with his team, who began working on his car, his time penalty was not served—a costly mistake. After the second start, the energy was reinvigorated, but the momentum led to some rash decisions. Nico Hülkenberg (Audi) received a ten-second penalty after he hit Carlos Sainz (Williams). Sainz was then hit again by Colapinto, and the damage led to his retirement.

In the final lap, the commentators praised Antonelli for being “on another planet” and for the “unbelievable pace that he has access to.” Antonelli crossed the checkered line and won the Monaco Grand Prix! He is the youngest to ever have five consecutive wins: “Thank you so much, guys. The car was a beast today.” He praised his team for giving him the confidence to push his car this race weekend. Hamilton was on the podium alongside him in P2.

With no more planned pit stops, some penalties were served post-race, impacting the final positions. Gasly came in P3 on the track, but his penalty dropped him to P7. Gasly responded in an interview, “[I am] heartbroken and don’t want to be speaking right now.” Hadjar took P3 for the last spot on the podium. “I had to dig very deep,” Hadjar states, after having issues with drivability all race.
Update: The FIA has officially overturned Gasly’s time penalties. He has reclaimed P3. 

On the track, Sergio Pérez (Cadillac) ended in P10, but with a ten-second penalty looming over him, Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) ended out the points. Russell ended up in P12 and commented that he was “beyond frustrated…struggling to comprehend what was going on.”

Overall, a frustrating end for many in Monaco. Antonelli, however, made history this past weekend. With the championship battle continuing to unfold, all eyes will turn to the upcoming battles still to come. Tune into the next race, the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Sunday, June 14, with East Bay F1! More details available here.